View Full Version : Question about TIDAL
Guys, just a quick one... I've signed up to a free trial of Tidal, which I'll probably now be using instead of Spotify Premium, as for me the sound quality is superior, even just on the 'HIFI' setting, not the full high-res 'Master' one.
Now, on the Tidal webpage there's a button on the bottom R/H corner which allows you to 'cast' the audio output to another (connected) device, which I can do with either of my Sony pieces of equipment (amp or Bluray player). That's working fine, and I'm getting 'HIFI' quality sound through my system.
However.... On the Tidal desktop app, which I've downloaded, simply to access the 'MASTER' quality, high-res music streams, there is no obvious button, unlike on the webpage, I can see that allows you to stream the sound via another device, which would then allow me to play it back through my Sony amp and system, so I can enjoy the superior sound quality.
All I'm able to do is play it through my laptop. Am I missing something, or is that just the way it is? Seems a bit daft.... :)
Marco.
Just the way it is.
I never use the web UI TBH but I need to check it out again, since I am sure it will have improved since I last looked.
Sherwood
21-06-2018, 12:05
In the PC app you control the streaming quality in the settings menu. If you have the premium package you will set that to Masters quality. In the Tidal menu you will see which content is Masters quality as it will have an "M" symbol on that album or playlist. You will also see an icon at the bottom of the screen indicating the bit rate.
IIRC Masters quality is not an option on the android app or with some streamers.
I agree that Tidal is way better than Spotify re SQ.
Geoff
Tidal's at least 16/44.1 whereas Spotify Premium has truncated dynamic range and frequency response. Only obvious with some recordings though.
I couldn't live with Spotify SQ had to keep buying CDs.
Marco are you running the thin client (browser TIDAL) on a tablet or phone?
The mobile app has Chromecast support. It got that quite a while ago.
hifi wise,i thought deezer to be better than tidal, and had a better layout etc. spotify is still very good. im back on it and enjoy its better access. decided it wasnt worth double the money.
Just the way it is.
Thanks, Justin.
So, are you saying that, with the desktop app, you can only listen to sound through the device that the app has been downloaded onto, and not stream the sound to an external device? If so, that's mad, because you can do it on the Tidal webpage.
Plus, if true, it effectively means that you can only listen to 'Master' quality music streams on a phone or laptop, neither of which facilitate audiophile listening.
Marco.
When you are in TIDAL desktop application, go to “What's New” and select “Masters” in the Albums section. To get the best quality, make sure to select "HiFi/Master" quality in “Settings" and then select “Streaming".
In the PC app you control the streaming quality in the settings menu. If you have the premium package you will set that to Masters quality. In the Tidal menu you will see which content is Masters quality as it will have an "M" symbol on that album or playlist. You will also see an icon at the bottom of the screen indicating the bit rate.
IIRC Masters quality is not an option on the android app or with some streamers.
I agree that Tidal is way better than Spotify re SQ.
Hi Geoff,
Thanks for that. I've got no problem controlling the streaming quality in the settings menu on the desktop app (I'm using a laptop for the purpose). That isn't the issue, and I can easily alter it there from hi-fi to master quality.
The problem is subsequently streaming the master quality sound to an external device, so I can play it through my system, rather than simply the speakers on my laptop. That's not a problem with the Tidal webpage, as there is a button on the bottom right-hand of the page for that purpose, which is strangely absent from the desktop app.
Do you see where I'm coming from?:)
Marco.
When you are in TIDAL desktop application, go to “What's New” and select “Masters” in the Albums section. To get the best quality, make sure to select "HiFi/Master" quality in “Settings" and then select “Streaming".
Cheers. Where is the 'What's new' section, mate? I can't see it. I'm on the homepage of the dektop app. The options I have are:
Home / Explore / Albums / Tracks / Videos / Artists. There's nothing that says 'What's New', and I need to find that first before I can follow the rest of your instructions.
Marco.
I should state that only 'Home' and 'Explore' are searchable functions out with of any music selections from 'My Collection', which is currently empty, as so far I've got nothing saved there.
Marco.
Guys, just a quick one... I've signed up to a free trial of Tidal, which I'll probably now be using instead of Spotify Premium, as for me the sound quality is superior, even just on the 'HIFI' setting, not the full high-res 'Master' one.
Now, on the Tidal webpage there's a button on the bottom R/H corner which allows you to 'cast' the audio output to another (connected) device, which I can do with either of my Sony pieces of equipment (amp or Bluray player). That's working fine, and I'm getting 'HIFI' quality sound through my system.
However.... On the Tidal desktop app, which I've downloaded, simply to access the 'MASTER' quality, high-res music streams, there is no obvious button, unlike on the webpage, I can see that allows you to stream the sound via another device, which would then allow me to play it back through my Sony amp and system, so I can enjoy the superior sound quality.
All I'm able to do is play it through my laptop. Am I missing something, or is that just the way it is? Seems a bit daft.... :)
Marco.
TIDAL HiFi is lossless; FLAC at 16/44.1.
I think the Masters are MQA or 24/96, which for me, is not necessary.
TIDAL HiFi is lossless; FLAC at 16/44.1.
I think the Masters are MQA or 24/96, which for me, is not necessary.
Might be different masterings though which means there is some usefulness to them.
Sherwood
21-06-2018, 17:43
Hi Geoff,
Thanks for that. I've got no problem controlling the streaming quality in the settings menu on the desktop app (I'm using a laptop for the purpose). That isn't the issue, and I can easily alter it there from hi-fi to master quality.
The problem is subsequently streaming the master quality sound to an external device, so I can play it through my system, rather than simply the speakers on my laptop. That's not a problem with the Tidal webpage, as there is a button on the bottom right-hand of the page for that purpose, which is strangely absent from the desktop app.
Do you see where I'm coming from?:)
Marco.
Yes. Have you configured your PC for casting. Once this is done it should appear as an option on Tidal.
Geoff
Thanks, Justin.
So, are you saying that, with the desktop app, you can only listen to sound through the device that the app has been downloaded onto, and not stream the sound to an external device? If so, that's mad, because you can do it on the Tidal webpage.
Plus, if true, it effectively means that you can only listen to 'Master' quality music streams on a phone or laptop, neither of which facilitate audiophile listening.
Marco.I think I am. It has pissed me off for ages.
You won't be able to cast 44.1KHz lossless from a laptop. You have to use a physical port to do it. I actually use HDMI to my telly and then the telly optical out to my DAC. Audiophile crime I expect some think, but it does sound fine. Really.
If someone knows better then tell us.
When you cast via a phone or tablet you will be using a different protocol and definitely not lossless wi-fi.
It took ages for TIDAL to allow Chromecast.
Bluetooth HD is still lossy, about half the data rate ish of a CD.
A while since I have looked at it but if someone knows better I am all ears.
https://www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk/p-15866-bluesound-node-2-hi-res-wireless-music-streamer.aspx?gclid=CjwKCAjwma3ZBRBwEiwA-CsblFnFhmqWrwc4YABcZrF1eHDqnxKV7-Es7LgvbmUH3DYP_REcaNWfvhoC-OoQAvD_BwE
Too much money and I don't want to use their in-built DAC.
bluetooth 5 does 1400kbs. not tried it tho. I might add thats for close range.. long range drops significantly, as you would expect. something has to give.
There are some points to consider on this:
If you want the full MQA unfold, then you have to use the Tidal desktop application, or pass the digital signal (via other means) to a full MQA capable DAC.
The Tidal web page version does NOT offer full MQA unfold.
I think Tidal restrict availability of the full unfold digital signal for fears of copying, etc. For example, with the Tidal app on my IPad Mini I can connect via analogue (via Lightning) to my external DAC/amp, but there's no digital out available. Apple Music, by contrast, allows an external digital feed.
I wouldn't get too hung up about MQA; it's impossible to tell if it's the same mastering or not and differences are often in just that. Some do, though, sound exceptionally good. If you've got Tidal HiFi then using MQA is mostly worthwhile.
My system could well be an example which makes things a bit clearer. I use Tidal a great deal and access via a Bluesound Vault. The Bluesound Vault is an MQA compatible device and it provides the full MQA unfold via its analogue outs.
However, I use its digital output in to a Perreaux DP32 which is not MQA compatible. The Bluesound provides the first MQA unfold via its digital out. So, with MQA files, I usually see 88.2 or 96kHz sampling frequency.
I have compared full unfold MQA from the Vault analogue to first unfold via the DP32 DAC (using DP32 as the pre in both instances). I prefer the first unfold via the DP32 DAC.
WESTLOWER
22-06-2018, 08:29
the latest version of Roon, also deals with Tidal's MQA (masters) so the compatible DAC isn't an issue In this case, I believe.
Edward should be along shortly to clarify...
the latest version of Roon, also deals with Tidal's MQA (masters) so the compatible DAC isn't an issue In this case, I believe.
Edward should be along shortly to clarify...
I believe Roon (1.5?) only provides the first unfold (i.e. same as Bluesound via digital). You still need a compatible device for the full unfold.
WESTLOWER
22-06-2018, 08:42
I believe Roon (1.5?) only provides the first unfold (i.e. same as Bluesound via digital). You still need a compatible device for the full unfold.
Understood, although it sounds darn good to these ears.
Begs the question how 'high res' does one want to go and is high res 'better' than Red book?
Understood, although it sounds darn good to these ears.
Begs the question how 'high res' does one want to go and is high res 'better' than Red book?
I have a feeling that there is some good remastering going on with MQA releases.
Redbook *is* high res. It is concerning that the market is being lead to believe that 24/96 is better, or DSD, or MQA.
If you listened above 100db (Redbook is 96db dynamic range), and the mastering could take it, you might get a smidgen of benefit from 24/96, but you’d have hearing damage pretty quickly.
For the foreseeable future CD will be my preferred format, and don’t think anything is going to replace 16/44.1 soon, even if only for filesize reasons. Apple etc. like to save their bandwidth.
Only the desktop application version of Tidal will do the first unfold of MQA. Unfortunately google cast (aka Chrome Cast) is not yet integrated in the Tidal application (https://support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005871245-Google-Cast-aka-Chromecast-). So if you use a Chrome Browser to try cast to a device no MQA unfolding will occur and hence will default to the lower setting (i.e. HiFi).
Roon, as Adam mentioned, at its latest version (1.5) will do the first MQA unfold (to 88.8khz/24bit) and output in PCM to any dac capable of that resolution (or higher). I need to check if Roon can Chrome Cast but I don't think it can (suspect that Roon Labs won't be pleased with the latency).
My recommendation anyway is to get Roon (with Tidal enabled) and get a Roon endpoint (e.g. a NUC) so you have the best of all worlds (Master quality everywhere in your house, Tidal albums integrated with your own albums, remote control [from say your phone/tablet], deep metadata and much more besides.) The Roon digital transport mechanism is second to none (IMO). With MQA (1st unfold) enabled the sound has become even more supreme (but of course depends on the original recording).
Edward (aka Roon Fanboy)
WESTLOWER
27-06-2018, 14:23
Edward (aka Roon Fanboy)
You on commission Ed?
You on commission Ed?Oh I wish.
Just had a look at the Tidal app available for my phone (an Android) and see Master MQA not available. I guess as a more powerful CPU is needed.
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